2003 Chrysler Town And Country

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS BECAME MELTED DURING THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

THE VAN WAS MODIFIED BY BRAUN CORPORATION. AN AFTER MARKET FUEL TANK WITH AN UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE FUEL PUMP MOUNT (THEY MODIFIED THE TANK WHICH IS NOT A CHRYSLER TANK AND PUT A MOUNTING O-RING IN PLACE OF THE STANDARD LOCKING MECHANISM) IS THE ISSUE. IT FAILS ABOUT EVERY 4 YEARS AND CAUSES A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FUEL CAN SPILL OR LEAK OUT OF THE TOP OF THE TANK WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK. WHEN THE SEAL FAILS, GAS FUMES ENTER THE CABIN. CONTACT FOR DETAILED INFORMATION AND HEAVY FREQUENCY OF REPEATED REPAIRS ON THIS AND MANY OTHER VEHICLES JUST LIKE THIS ONE. GIBSON AUTO ELECTRIC 211 SE 11TH AVE PORTLAND, OR 97214 (503) 231-4100. *TR

WE HAVE OWNED OUR 2003 TOWN AND COUNTRY SINCE 2008. THE CAR HAD SEEMED TO HAVE PRETTY GOOD GAS MILEAGE UNTIL THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE GAS EVERY 3 DAYS OR SO. I PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS IN THE VAN ON FRIDAY MAY 21ST. I PICKED UP BOTH MY SON AND DAUGHTER TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND TO AND FROM CHURCH. WE MADE A PIT STOP AT A STORE AND DROPPED OFF A FRIEND AT HOME (THIS PERSON LIVES AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY SON'S SCHOOL). ON MONDAY, I FOUND MYSELF BACK AT THE GAS STATION BECAUSE MY GAS LIGHT HAD COME ON AND HAD SAID I WAS OUT OF GAS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER AND OVER AGAIN OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAS NOTED THAT I HAVE BEEN PURCHASING GAS MORE AND MORE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND RECOMMENDS THAT WE TAKE THIS IN AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR ISN'T SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH THIS VAN. FILLING A VAN ISN'T CHEAP AND THIS VAN HAS EMPTIED OUR GAS BUDGET IN LESS THAN A WEEK. I DON'T SEE MYSELF PURCHASING ANOTHER TOWN AND COUNTRY FOR OUR NEXT VAN PURCHASE. WE WILL NEED TO DO MUCH BETTER ON OUR HOMEWORK WITH OUR NEXT PURCHASE. *TR

OUR 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY EX MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH PERIODIC MAINTENANCE, WAS BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS PRESENT, SO THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THE ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD FUEL INJECTOR (AT 99,700 MILES, NOT TOTALLY ABNORMAL). WE HAD A NEW INJECTOR INSTALLED, HOWEVER ON THE WAY HOME THE SAME ISSUE RECURRED. THE SHOP THEN SAID THE COMPUTER GAVE A HUGE LIST AND WAS LIKELY DEFECTIVE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER. AT THE DEALER, THEY AGREED, AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS STILL PRESENT. THE ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN, THEN SPENT 2 DAYS TRACING THE PROBLEM. AS IT TURNS OUT THERE WERE ABOUT 8 OR 9 OF THE 12 WIRES IN THE FUEL INJECTOR WIRING HARNESS WERE BARE AND SHORTING TOGETHER CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN BADLY, AND POLLUTING THE OIL WITH FUEL IN THE PROCESS. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS BEND IN THE WIRE AT THE POINT WHERE THE BARE WIRES WERE IN THE HARNESS. THIS HARNESS IS HIDDEN FROM VIEW BY A PROTECTIVE SLEEVE, AND THERE WERE NO CUTS IN THE SLEEVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT OUR VAN PROVIDED THEM WITH THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO FIX 3 OTHER VANS THEY COULDN'T FIX BEFORE. THE BARE WIRING RUINED OUR PCM, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE EXTRA FUEL VAPORS, WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, BASICALLY A BOMB WAITING FOR THE RIGHT SPARK. BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WAS FOUND IN OTHER VEHICLES, AND IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, I BELIEVE IT WARRANTS INVESTIGATION, AND A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR ALL VANS WITH THIS SAME ENGINE HARNESS. CHRYSLER WAS NO HELP IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE, WHICH IN MY VIEW WAS EITHER AN INSTALLATION ERROR OR FAULTY PART. ALTHOUGH, THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL PROPERTY DAMAGE, THE FAULTY PART COST ME $1400.00 IN REPAIRS AND THE LOSS OF USE FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS. THE WIRING HARNESS IS AVAILABLE AT MY HOME, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND IT UPON REQUEST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND PULSATED WHEN DEPRESSED. ALL OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MADE A GRATING AND SCRAPING SOUND AND WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES OF JIGGLING TO GET IT BACK IN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CYLINOID WAS REPLACED. THE GASKET AND SEAL ON THE WATER PUMP AND THE ACCESSORY BELT WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE LIFTGATE WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THE FOLLOWING RECALLS WERE REFERENCED: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 03E053000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 04V386000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING AND CONNECTIONS), 05V134000 (LATCHES:LOCKS:LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE LOCK), AND 06E022000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLAED AFTER 1 YEAR AND 8 MONTHS. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND SEPERPENTIN BELT WERE REPLACED.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION CARRIER, BUT INDICATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP COULD ALSO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FOR THREE WEEKS AND CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HOT OR COLD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WHEN THE STALLING OCCURRED. HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER THE OIL LIGHT INDICATOR WAS LIT. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FREQUENT STALLING INCIDENTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT OCCURRED AT 1 AM. UPDATED 2/22/2007 -NOW THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A ROUGH START CONDITION. THE STEERING HAD BECOME VERY TIGHT AND MAKES NOISE. THE RADIO WILL NOT PLAY AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN IT IS ON. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE HORN WILL NOT SOUND. REAR WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE HOSE HAD COME OFF OF THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND DETERMINED THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LIMITED WITH APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO PULL OUT OR PASS, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED MORE THAN ANTICIPATED AND FOR A LONGER TIME. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED, THE ENGINE REMAINED AT HIGH SPEED FOR AN INSTANT LONGER THAN NORMAL THEN WOULD NOT SLOW BELOW A FAST IDLE UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER, SCULLY MOTORS OF WINDSOR, CT, WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, POSSIBLY EVEN WORSE, AND INVESTIGATED. THEY HAVE REPORTED TO ME THAT THE PLATE INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DISINTEGRATING AND CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO HANG OPEN AND TOLD ME THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM, AND WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD NO OTHER RECORD OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER IS OUT OF STOCK ON REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODIES AND REPORTEDLY MANY SITES WITHIN CHRYSLER HAVE THE PART ON BACK ORDER. THIS WOULD INDICATE TO A LAYMAN THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE MORE WIDESPREAD. SINCE THE SERVICE PERSONNEL CONSIDERED IT SUCH A THREAT TO MY SAFETY THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AND SINCE THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A ROUTINE TYPE OF BREAKDOWN ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR REVIEW AS A SAFETY DEFECT. I HAVE REQUESTED THE DEALER TO SAVE THE REPLACED PARTS FOR ME.

I OWN A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. DURING A RECENT TRIP WE RAN OVER A PIECE OF TIRE LYING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE IMPACT FROM THE SMALL PIECE OF TIRE CAUSED A RUPTURE IN THE FIBERGLAS GAS TANK, ALONG AN EXPOSED SEAM. THE DEALER IN DURANGO CO SAID THEY WERE TOLD THAT THERE WERE FIVE OTHER INCIDENTS OF DAMAGE TO THE SAME GAS TANK THAT WEEK, NECESSITATING A LENGTHY WAIT WHILE A TANK WAS SHIPPED FROM DETROIT. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT WHEN THE DEALER CALLED CHRYSLER FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE TANK, THEY WERE TOLD TO "IMPOUND" THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN POSING THIS TO CHRYSLER, THEY DENY THAT THERE WAS EVER ANY IMPOUNDING AND THAT WE WERE MERELY "ADVISED" NOT TO DRIVE IT. IT WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE THAN THAT. IT WAS, IN FACT, IMPOUNDED AND WOULD NOT BE RELEASED TO US. WE CAN PRODUCE WITNESSES TO THIS STATEMENT WHO WERE IN THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS THAT IS NOT TRUE. CLEARLY, THEY DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRYSLER. WHILE WE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE LITTLE INTEREST IN DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BEYOND GETTING IT TO SOME PLACE WHERE REPAIRS MIGHT BE MORE REASONABLY PRICED ($738 FOR A GAS TANK SEEMS EXCESSIVE), I AM MORE CONCERNED THAT THE TANK CAN RECEIVE SUCH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IT SEEMS THAT ANY OF SEVERAL OPTIONS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS PROBLEM. 1) IF THE TANK WAS MADE OF SOMETHING OTHER THAN FIBERGLAS, IT MIGHT BETTER WITHSTAND AN IMPACT. 2) IF THE COMPANY IS GOING TO USE FIBERGLAS, A PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN FRONT OF THE EXPOSED AREA WOULD PREVENT THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE. 3) A SEAM SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO THE ROAD SURFACE. THE SPLIT IN THE TANK WAS AT A SEAM ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK. IF SUCH RUPTURE CAN BE PREVENTED, IT SHOULD BE! *LA